Page 40 - DIVA_1_2018

CULTURE

Cycling For Knowledge:

The 2017 edition of Cyclo-Biblio makes a stop at the Palais des Nations
By Cristina Giordano, UN Library at Geneva

The day is 19 June 2017, it is hot and kind. They come from different Eu- only about books >>, stress their role
sunny. It is a Monday and the begin- ropean countries. Most of them are and importance, exchange profession-
ning of an extraordinary heat wave in from France, many are from Switzer- al experiences, share best practices,
Geneva. land, but also from Belgium, Spain and learn from each other. It changes
Around noon, UN Security officers and Finland. They are all professional the way librarians are perceived and
open the gate known as << La Fené- librarians and they are on an advo- draws the public's attention to their
tre >>, an entrance to the UN com- cacy tour called <<Cyclo-Biblio >>. role as dynamic innovators.
pound that is usually closed, to let in According to the definition of the or- Lara herself is a perfect example of
a colourful group of cyclists in yel- ganizer, the dynamic Lara Jovignot, this: a former UN Library intern, she
low and orange vests. They arrive in of the Lausanne Municipal Library, has left her very own mark on the in-
small groups, climbing the Route de <<Cyclo-Biblio is a librarians' confer- stitution by creating the first online
Pregny under the sun. After the com- ence on bikes >>. The initiative origi- resource guide ever (on disarma-
pulsory identity checks, these unusu- nated in Finland, where the concept ment) and teaching her colleagues
al visitors get on their bikes and ride was developed in 2011 as <<Cycling how to make more.
through the Ariana Park, escorted by for Libraries >>. Lara Jovignot liked No wonder she decided to include the
a Security Land Rover, watched from the idea so much that she decided to UN Library in the Cyclo-Bibhio tour
above by the UN drone. import it into the French-speaking li- this year. It is a great opportunity for
Ringing their bells, they make a joy- braries' world. This year Cyclio-Bib- the cycling librarians to discover an
ful entrance into the parking lot in ho celebrates its fourth edition with a amazingly rich and diverse collec-
front of the building of the UN Li- tour of the Leman Lake. Lara has or- tion, which includes: the League of
brary. Mr. Pisano, the Chief Librar- ganized three of its four editions. The Nations' unique archives, UN docu-
ian, comes to greet them, he too on 2017 programme includes the visit ments going back to the very begin-
his bike. Colleagues from UNCTAD, of 21 libraries and almost 300 kilo- ning of the organization, rare books
UNECE, ITC, IBE and various UN metres of road over one week (18-24 such as the first edition of Mon-
entities also join in the welcome. June 2017). More than 70 people are tesquieu's << The spirit of the laws >,
After parking their bikes, the group taking part, and the waiting list was official documents from most coun-
quickly spreads on the nearby lawn much longer. tries of the world, books on interna-
and forms a circle around the foun- tional law and economics, treaties
tain of the Armillary Sphere, waving But why do so many librarians feel and constitutions, but also databases,
at the drone that keeps flying around, the need to take the road and go to ebooks, online resource guides. . . Let's
filming and taking pictures. such an effort? face it, you do not see often such a
<< Ten years ago >>, says Antoine Tor- complete specialized collection, with
Who are these special guests? Dip- rens, one of the participants and a time coverage exceeding more than
lomats supporting the cause of sport vice-president of CFIBD, the Inter- one century. Is there a better place to
and slow mobility? In a way, yes, they national French Committee Librar- learn about the challenges ahead?
are ambassadors, but of a special ies and Documentation, << we were
not even sure that libraries The UN sustainable Development
would survive. Nowadays Goals, also known as Agenda 2030,
we know they will, but we are the topic of Mr. Pisano's presenta-
need to figure out how they tion to the cycling librarians. In par-
will change and adapt to ticular, he stresses how the 17 goals
the new realities >>. Biking and 169 targets for a better world are
is an original way to meet interrelated and the importance that
colleagues, users, local ad- knowledge plays in their implemen-
ministrators, maybe even tation.
politicians, in order to ex- << Never before has knowledge been
plain that << libraries are not such a vital asset for the international

38 DIVA - INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT